Book Discussion Group  

Languages of Freedom: The Idea of India in Political Theory, Bombay Cinema and Progressive Urdu Poetry.

By Neera Chandhoke. (Speaking Tiger Books, 2026)

Moderator: Prof. Apoorvanand, Professor, Faculty of Arts, Delhi University

Discussants: Gauhar Raza, scientist, Prominent Urdu poet, Documentary Filmmaker, and social activist; Ashok Vajpeyi, Hindi poet, Critic, Essayist and Translator; Prof. Partho Datta, School of Arts and Aesthetics, JNU and Prof. Neera Chandhoke, Visiting Professor, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi & Former Professor of Political Science, University of Delhi

Indigenous Knowledge Systems as Drivers of Economic Transformation in Northeast India: Institutional Pathways and Sustainable Development

A panel discussion exploring the potential of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Northeast India to foster sustainable livelihoods, community-led enterprise and economic transformation. The session will examine how institutional support, local governance, market access and policy frameworks can strengthen traditional practices while ensuring ecological sustainability, equitable development and cultural continuity.

Discussant details to be announced soon.

(Collaboration: Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER)

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP 

Moral Rupture of Kashmir Society: Impact of Prolonged Conflict
By Bashir Assad (Gaurav Book Centre, 2026)

Details to be announced soon.

Delimitation after 2026: Electoral Equality or Federal Balance?

Moderator: Dr. Amitabh Kundu, Distinguished Fellow, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS)

Discussants: Dr Yogendra Yadav, Author, Activist and Public Intellectual; Prof Santosh Mehrotra, Senior Fellow Nehru Memorial Museum and Library; Dr S. Y. Quraishi, Former Chief Election Commissioner of India

The proposed delimitation of parliamentary constituencies after 2026 raises complex questions, the discussion examines the implications for states that have successfully managed population growth and the challenge of balancing the democratic principle of ‘one person, one vote’ with regional equality within India’s federal system. Exploring a possible middle path of allocating incremental parliamentary seats based on contemporary population data without reducing the existing representation of states.

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

What the Shadow Said
By K. Jayakumar (Alcove Publishers, 2026)

Discussants: Dr. Sukrita Paul Kumar, Guest Editor, Indian Literature, Poet, Academic & Critic; Jatin Das, Artist, Prof. Radha Chakravarty, Writer, Critic & Translator; K. Abhay, Hindi Poet; Gagan Gill, Writer and Poet; C P Surendran, Indian poet, novelist, journalist, columnist and screenplay writer; K Jayakumar, Former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, Former Chief Secretary of Kerala, and a renowned poet, lyricist

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP 

Ashes to Light: Stories of Hope Towards Gender Justice
By Priyadarshini Bhattacharya (Vintage Books, 2026)

Discussants: Prof Dev Nath Pathak, South Asian University ; Prof Pushpesh Pant,  Food Critic and Historian ; Dr. Saswati Bhattacharya, LSR, DU ; Dr. Savita Singh,  IGNOU ; Dr. Sukrita Paul Kumar , Poet and Translator ; Yauvanika Chopra, New India Foundation, Dr. Preeti Vajpeyi, Vinyaas Society; Kabir Vajpeyi, Vinyaas Society; Girija Borkar, Economist and Development Professional; Sushmit Ghosh, Filmmaker; Preeti Sudan, Former Union Health Secretary, Chairperson, UPSC; Kiran Bedi,  Former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry; Dr. Raviraj Shetty, Therapist and Author, Narrative Practices India; Priyadarshini Bhattacharya, Joint Secretary, Panchayat and Rural Development Department & Author of the Book
 

Connected Histories, Shared Present: Cross-Cultural Experiences between Latin America, the Caribbean and India
Release of the book edited by Sonya Surabhi Gupta (New Delhi: Tulika Books, 2026)

The book will be released by Shri N.N. Vohra, Life Trustee, IIC

Followed by a discussion with Ambassador R. Viswanathan, Latin America expert and former Ambassador to Latin American countries; H.E. Juan Angulo Monsalve, Ambassador of Chile to India (TBC); Prof. Sonya Surabhi Gupta, former Professor of Latin American Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia; and Prof. Carlos Frederico Pereira da Silva Gama, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Shiv Nadar Institute of Eminence

(Organised by IIC-International Research Division)
 

State of the Indian Media
Has social media fundamentally transformed India's media landscape?

Siddharth Varadarajan, Founding Editor, The Wire; Rajdeep Sardesai, Consulting Editor, India Today TV; Vinod Sharma, former political editor of the Hindustan Times; Saba Naqvi, columnist and author of Politics of Jugaad: The Coalition Handbook; Sugata Srinivasaraju, senior journalist and author based in Bengaluru (online) and Navin Kumar, founding editor of Article 19 India In Conversation with Suhas Borker, Convenor, Jan Prasar.

This conversation marks the 36th Anniversary of the Presidential Assent to the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990 and is the 33rd discussion in the annual series that began in 1994.

(Collaboration: Jan Prasar)
 

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP 

From Manuscript to Memory, Safeguarding Living Heritage; Tangible and Natural Heritage Sites of Incredible India 
By Ramesh C. Gaur; Mayank Shekhar; Archana Lochan, Ashna Kumar and Mayank Singh; Sadhish Sharma

Discussants: Dr. Arvind Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, GoI; Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA); Yadubir Singh Rawat, Director General, Archaeological Survey of India; Dr. Sandhya Purecha, Chairman, Sangeet Natak Akademi; Tim Curtis, Director and Representative, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia

The Mecca Pact: Implications and Complications

Chair: Amb. K.P. Fabian, Professor, Indian Society of International Law, New Delhi and Symbiosis University, Pune

Discussants: Amb Dinkar Srivastav, former Ambassador to Iran and Distinguished Fellow, Vivekanand International Foundation; Prof Happymon Jacob, Distinguished Visiting Professor, Shiv Nadar University, Founder & Director, Council for Strategic and Defence Research; Amb. Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha, Former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka and Chief Information Commissioner of India.

On 7 August, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed a collective security agreement, signalling concerns over Washington’s role in GCC security. The panel will discuss its implications for the region and India, and explore how India can contribute more effectively to security in the GCC and West Asia.